An official says authorities have subdued a man who attempted to hijack a Turkish plane to Sochi, Russia, and that the other passengers have been evacuated.

 

Huseyin Avni Mutlu, the Istanbul governor, says on Twitter that "the operation has ended."

 

In another tweet Friday, he said all passengers were evacuated "without any problems." 

An F-16 fighter plane was scrambled as soon as the pilot signaled there was a hijacking attempt and escorted the plane safely to Istanbul's Sabiha Gokcen airport, according to NTV television. 

 

The news broke as athletes from nations around the world poured into the stadium for the Winter Olympics in Sochi, raising fears about security.

 

Russia's Interfax news agency quotes Ukrainian authorities as saying the passenger was drunk. 

The Transport Ministry official says the passenger claimed there was a bomb on board the flight.

According to the official, the man rose from his seat and shouted that there was a bomb on board, and then tried to enter the locked cockpit. The pilot signaled that there was a hijack attempt, and the airport was placed on high alert.

Pegasus Airlines confirms that there was a "bomb threat" aboard the flight. (AP)